German word

verfallen

Pronunciation

IPA/fɛɐ̯ˈfalən/

Meaning

  • verbexpire

Example

Der Gutschein verfällt nächsten Monat.

The coupon expires next month.

Illustration for verfallen (expire)

More examples

Er ist der Kunst dieser Malerin verfallen.

He is captivated by this painter's art.

Core concept

Something slips away from its proper state: a right loses force, a building decays, or a person falls under another's spell.

Common phrases

  • verfällt rückwirkend

    expire retroactively

  • verfällt bei Nichtnutzung

    expire upon non-use

Similar words

ablaufen: To become invalid when its validity period ends, especially for a voucher.
auslaufen: To lose its force when a contract or system reaches its end date.
erlöschen: To officially cease to be valid, especially for a legal right or qualification.

Definition in German

Gültigkeit verlieren; ein Gutschein oder Anspruch gilt nach Ablauf nicht mehr.

Word origin

Verfallen combines ver- with fallen, and its core notion of falling away extends to expired rights, physical decay, and overpowering attachment.

Usage tips

  • The construction jemandem verfallen takes the dative, while a voucher verfällt and a building ist verfallen.

Other meanings

  • decayverb
  • dilapidatedadjective
  • fall forverb

Opposites

Related words

  • das Verfallsdatumexpiration datenoun
  • der Verfalldecaynoun

Word lists with this word